A little news last week that has a college media twist: Brian Stelter of TVNewser has been hired by the New York Times to report on the media. What’s the college media angle? Stelter’s most recent gig was as editor-in-chief of the Towson University student newspaper the Towerlight – while he continued writing the TVNewser blog. #

Jeff Jarvis makes a good point: #

Pay attention, journalism students: When I suggest that you blog, this is what I’m talking about. Take a beat. Add journalism to the discussion around it. Answer a need. And if you’re good, good things can happen. #

Pay attention, also, editors: There is talent working outside your newsroom. Go find that talent. Nurture it. You don’t even have to hire it. #

I had a private e-mail exchange with an adviser last week who fretted about journalism students who were starting weblogs outside the umbrella of the student media organization at the school. The question: “what are they not getting from us that makes them want to go out and do this on their own?” #

Students are beginning to catch on to the need to be savvy about new media – testing the waters by writing a weblog is just one way for them to do so. Being exposed to the do-it-yourself publishing platform of blogging can be a heady experience for someone who’s used to working in a traditional media setting. #

My encouragement was that advisers need to find ways to encourage that kind of innovative thinking within their news organizations. That can be difficult in a hierarchically-oriented news setting. But it can be done. #

I hope to have more to say about this soon. #

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